The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Jagannath meets Sonia Gandhi

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Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Jagannath meets Sonia Gandhi

Special Correspondent

Telugu Desam MP says he voted according to his conscience; may join Congress

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Member of Parliament Manda Jagannath, who made no bones of voting in favour of the UPA Government in the trust vote, met AICC president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi on Wednesday morning.

By meeting Ms. Gandhi, he made his intentions clear of joining the Congress.

Clearing the air on why he voted for the UPA, the Nagarkurnool (SC) MP said he did so respecting his conscience.

He felt this was not the time to pull down the Government and he was prepared to face any action by the TDP.

Refuting TD parliamentary party leader K. Yerran Naidu’s charge that his decision to support UPA Government was motivated by monetary considerations, he challenged him to prove it and “accept the amount” himself.

Yet to recover from the blow dealt by Dr. Jagannath’s action, TDP sources contend that the Congress managers struck a deal with him besides assuring him party ticket from Nagarkurnool, from where he had won three times.

Responding to a question at the press conference at Delhi whether money played a role, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said it needed to be verified wondering what could have motivated a person who was with the party for 13 long years to switch sides.

Explanation sought

Meanwhile, another TDP MP from Chittoor, D. K. Adikesavulu Naidu, continued with his flip- flop on Wednesday when he sat besides Mr. Chandrababu Naidu during the press conference in Delhi. The party took a lenient view and let him off merely seeking an explanation from him.

The TDP leadership may have to grapple with a situation where it is being accused by a section of partymen that it showed differential treatment to the two MPs.

While it took direct “harsh” action against a Dalit MP, it gave a chance of explanation to another MP, perceived to be close to Mr. Chandrababu Naidu.

But the leadership explains that this was because Mr. Adikesavulu Naidu claimed that he indeed voted against the UPA Government and that he continued to be in TDP.

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